R.E. Short Jr.

R.E. Short Jr., age 83, of Russellville, died Saturday, September 10, 2011, at his home. He was born July 7, 1928, in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Wheatley, Arkansas. His father, Romeo Ennis Short, and his mother, Darlene Shearer Short, began the family farm there in 1922. Romey, as his friends called him, became the owner of that farm. Mr. Short graduated from Brinkley High School and attended Arkansas Tech University and Oklahoma State University. He returned to the farm and at one time, was co-owner of Producers' Implement Company, a John Deere dealership in Brinkley. He served for 17 years as president of the Wheatley Grain Drying Cooperative, an affiliate of Riceland Foods at that time, and was elected to the board of directors of Riceland Foods in 1954. He was elected vice chairman of the Riceland board of directors in 1972 and chairman in 1978. He retired from the Riceland Foods board in 1985 after 31 years of service. He was instrumental in numerous farm organizations as a voice for farmers. He was a leader in the formation of the Rice Producers Working Group that brought all rice-producing states together to develop national rice policy. He also served as president of the Arkansas Cattleman's Association, president of the Arkansas Soybean Association, served on the American Soybean Association board, the Arkansas Rice Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz appointed him to the National Rice Advisory Board, and Governor Winthrop Rockefeller appointed him to the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission. He was a member of the University of Arkansas School of Agriculture Advisory Committee and a member of Arkansas Farm Bureau. He was a 1993 inductee into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame. He was a Rotarian, a member of the board of directors of the Brinkley Hospital Commission, and a past member of the Moro School Board. He served on the Development Council for the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and on the board of directors of the Arkansas Sheriff's Association Boy's Ranch. He was a member of the Brinkley United Methodist Church and served as a member of its board of trustees. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Betty McGregor Short; and a son, Romeo "Bo" Short Jr. Survivors include his wife, M. Portia Short; two daughters, Margie Short Cross and her husband, Rick, of Malvern, and Janie Short Thomas and her husband, John, of Moro; five grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and an unborn great-grandchild. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church in Brinkley, officiated by the Rev. James French, the Rev. John Sword and the Rev. Patti Sword, with the eulogy provided by Bill Reed of Riceland Foods. Private burial in Oaklawn Cemetery at Brinkley is by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the memorial service. Memorials may be made to the Romeo E. Short Scholarship Fund, at either the Division of Agriculture, E204 Building, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, or the Arkansas Farm Bureau, Post Office Box 31, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-0031. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.